India started their Women’s Asia Cup campaign against Thailand in Dubai on Sunday. They were batting first and had a great powerplay but struggled in the middle overs as Thailand’s spinners triggered a batting collapse
that restricted the India Women to 159 for 9. Shafali Verma started aggressively and smashed 64 off 36 balls including eight fours and three sixes. India went to 100 for 2 in 10 overs after Smriti Mandhana was dismissed on 19 off 10 by a sharp run-out. Debutant Pratika Rawal scored in with 22, and at the halfway mark they were looking good to post a massive total.
They struggled in the middle overs as the spinners came in to bowl. Leg-spinner Suleeporn Laomi bowled really well and kept a stump-to-stump line, triggering the collapse. She first dismissed Rawal and returned to dismiss Shafali with a return catch. After the top three fell, there was a huge collapse in the middle overs.
Twitter Reacts to Middle Order Collapse
Richa Ghosh was dismissed off the first ball for a golden duck as India lost two wickets in two balls. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed cheaply for 5 and the lower order kept losing wickets. India lost four wickets for 21 runs in and managed just 58 for 6 in the last 10 overs. Off-spinner Sunida Chaturongrattana picked up two more wickets. A late cameo from Kranti Gaud pushed them past 150 but it was a really poor performance in the middle overs. Laomi finished with 3 for 26.
If not for Shafali Verma, India would’ve been in the hall of shame with this performance against Thailand. 💔🥹
— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) August 30, 2026
My blud Harmanpreet Kaur can't even score against Thailand and somehow she is our captain from the last 8 years. 😭🙏 pic.twitter.com/3dSsBLMcJK
— Soman. (@Shreyasian96) August 30, 2026
Suleeporn Laomi takes three wickets, dismissing #ShafaliVerma, #PratikaRawal and #RichaGhosh for a duck. India manage 159 against Thailand. Crazy!#AsiaCup
— Megha Mallick (@megha_mallick) August 30, 2026
Suleeporn Laomi produces a sensational piece of fielding to run out Deepti Sharma for just 5 (7) in the Women’s Asia Cup🇹🇭 Thailand Women continue to inflict damage in the field with sharp work and relentless energy🏏 📷: SonyLiv pic.twitter.com/kIKG316Ntf
— CricInformer (@CricInformer) August 30, 2026
RICHA GHOSH DISMISSED FOR 1 BALL DUCK.🦆 Team India from 107-2 to 112-5, Lost 3 wickets for 5 runs v Thailand. pic.twitter.com/xxZuVFAvjZ
— Maina Singh (@Maina_Singhx77) August 30, 2026
HARMANPREET KAUR GOES FOR 5 RUNS OF 9 BALLS. #AsiaCup #INDvTHAI #HarmanpreetKaur pic.twitter.com/wlQfk5IpS5
— Somesh Jangra (@SomeshJangra07) August 30, 2026
Fans on twitter reacted to this collapse by the Indian side. While some of them said Laomi’s spell as the game-changer, with posts calling it a brilliant 3/26 that turned the contest on its head. Others were critical and said “India collapsed against Thailand’s bowling and fielding attack and blamed the middle order batters. There were plenty of criticisms on how India went from 108 for 2 to 137 for 9. India Women are on their way to win the match against Thailand but they will be disappointed with how the middle overs panned out.
